The Unreal Boyfriend

by Miranda P. Charles

  He retraced his steps to head for the stairs and caught sight of the door to the laundry room. Next door in the powder room, Nate was still singing.

  “Are you done yet?” Gavin asked his son.

  “No, O, O, O, P!” Nate sang.

  Derek chuckled, sneaking inside the laundry area. He couldn’t imagine anyone needing to use this room at this time, and it was probably the best place for privacy during a party.

  He rang Holly’s number.

  “Hey,” Holly answered.

  “Hi. Sorry I didn’t pick up earlier. I’m at Chelsea’s party.”

  “Aw. Such a shame I couldn’t come. Maybe when all this is over, I can attend your get-togethers. Your friends are a great bunch of people.”

  “They are.”

  “Anyway, Xavier’s here with me. We’ve had a good look around and there are no signs of cameras. But there’s a room that’s locked. It has a sign on the door that it’s private and inaccessible to the guests.”

  Derek’s heart beat faster. “Have you had a look yet?”

  “Not yet,” Xavier answered. “I’m still perfecting my lock-picking skills.”

  “I think someone else should try to open it,” Holly said. “I’m afraid Xavier would stuff it up and damage the whole thing.”

  “Why, thanks for the vote of confidence, sis,” Xavier said dryly. “I just need to practice some more, that’s all. This lock is the same as one of the doors I’m learning on, so just give me time. Besides, we can’t get anyone else involved.”

  “How long do you need, Xavier?” Derek asked.

  “A few days more, but definitely well before Holly has to vacate. Like Holly said, I don’t want to create a single scratch to the lock. We’ll have to be able to leave it like it was never touched.”

  “Okay. What about the house blueprints? Any luck getting those?”

  “Not yet,” said Xavier. “I’m still working my magic on one of the council workers. I’ll have it in a day or two. This place is not massive, like Ross’s other houses, so Holly and I did some quick measuring. It doesn’t look like there’s space for any hidden rooms, unless it has an underground cavity that we haven’t found yet. But it’s all floorboards with only the occasional rug, and they all seem intact. I think it’s that locked room we have to concentrate on getting into.”

  “Just keep me updated, please,” Derek said.

  “Hopefully, it’s in the locked room,” Holly said. “I just can’t wait for all of this to be over.”

  “Me, too,” he said. All he wanted was to bring to justice the man who’d killed—or ordered the killing of—his father. But he knew Man and His Secrets would bring to light more than that. Other families would also get information regarding their loved ones.

  He filled his lungs with air and let it out slowly. Sometimes, it hit him just how massive this mission was that he, Holly and Xavier had been working on for four years. It was scary, but he couldn’t allow himself to be scared, so he shook his head to clear his mind of the fear.

  He said goodbye to Holly and Xavier, then quietly exited the laundry room, only to stop in his tracks like a deer in the headlights. His lovely, beautiful Bernadette was standing outside the powder room with Natasha. Had they heard him? Guilt hit him like a tidal wave.

  “Why were you in there?” Bernadette asked in surprise.

  “I… I thought there was a toilet in here. I was wrong.”

  “The ones upstairs should be free,” Natasha said. “But how long where you in there for? We’ve been out here listening to Nate sing.”

  He felt heat rise up to his neck. “Oh, I had a phone call, so I picked it up first.”

  “A, B, C, D, E, F, G,” Nate sang again. “H, I… I’m done, Daddy!”

  Natasha and Bernadette giggled, and Derek chuckled with them—from relief. The women didn’t seem to have heard his conversation with Holly and Xavier.

  “Well, I’ll head upstairs,” he said. But before he went, he kissed Bernadette’s cheek and gave her back a brief caress.

  They had to find Man and His Secrets soon. Otherwise, seeing Holly behind Bernadette’s back would be his undoing. Even though he wasn’t cheating, Bernadette might feel betrayed before he got the chance to explain everything.

  Chapter 10

  “Bernadette, are you listening?”

  “What?” Bernadette turned off the running tap at the kitchen sink.

  “I said Mr. Anton wants me to work an additional day,” June said from the living room. “Evelyn now only wants to work weekends so she can look after her grandchild while her daughter works full-time. I will now do Monday to Friday instead of Monday to Thursday.”

  “Really? That’s great. He must really like you.” She continued with her dishwashing.

  June snickered. “There’s not much to do sometimes but to keep dusting and vacuuming over and over. And I only saw him three or four times in the last two weeks. I think he sometimes sleeps in his other houses. Anyway, I can’t wait until his next business party. It won’t be as boring then.”

  “Are you getting bored already, Mum?” She placed the last glass on the dish rack and wiped her hands.

  “Yes. But I’m sure it will be super busy during the parties. Besides, for the money I get paid, I don’t care if I die of boredom.”

  She joined her mother in front of the TV and narrowed her eyes. “You’re not putting your earnings in the poker machines, are you?”

  June scowled at her. “Only a little bit. I’m entitled to use my salary for whatever I want, you know. Plus, I’m already giving you some for the household bills, so you can’t complain.”

  Bernadette bit her tongue and smiled. “Yes, thank you. And don’t forget to save some of it.”

  “Yes, of course,” June said in a calmer tone. “And I want to buy Lawrence some nice presents, too. It’s been a long time since I had enough money to buy someone something really, really nice. Well, I guess I haven’t had a boyfriend in a long time either,” she added with a giggle.

  “What do you plan to give him?”

  “Oh, I don’t know. Clothes, I guess. Or tattoos.”

  Bernadette gasped. “Tattoos? You’re gonna have tattoos?”

  “Don’t be silly. I mean for him. More tattoos for him. I’ll just pay for it. Maybe he’ll get my name inked on his body if I pay for it.”

  Bernadette refrained from rolling her eyes. “So you haven’t seen anyone famous visit Mr. Anton’s house yet?”

  “Nah. Hardly anyone has visited. Maybe they’re all going to his other houses. Except that there was one guy who was there the other day who looked quite familiar, but I just couldn’t place him. I think he’s the one who painted that painting you liked so much in Mr. Anton’s office.”

  “Really? How do you know?”

  “Well, I was dusting in the library when Mr. Anton came out of his office to go somewhere. The door was open, so I got a glimpse of the other guy bending down on the painting.”

  “Bending down on it?”

  “Yes. It was on the desk. Looked like he was working on it.”

  “Like adding to it? It was already good as it was.”

  “I don’t know whether he was adding to it or improving it or what. I couldn’t really see exactly what he was doing. I just know it’s that painting you liked because it wasn’t hanging on the wall and there was a big frame on the desk. Anyway, I didn’t want to look like I was spying, so I moved on. Hey, maybe if I get to know that guy, I can ask him for an autograph for you—tell him how much you like his painting.”

  Bernadette laughed. “Thanks, Mum. But Mr. Anton probably won’t appreciate you hassling his friends.”

  “Well, Mr. Anton is being very nice to me. Actually, he asked about how you’re doing. I said you’re good. So in love with your new boyfriend, like me and Lawrence. I have to say, I feel lucky to have Mr. Anton as a boss. He’s really very friendly. Listens to a simple housekeeper like me. You know how some bosses can’t be bothered talking to their
staff at all?”

  “Uh-huh. Did you see Lawrence at work these last couple of weeks?”

  June shook her head. “Unfortunately, most of his work is not in Dural. Maybe one day Mr. Anton would send me to his other houses to work and I might see Lawrence there. It would also be nice to see what Mr. Anton’s other properties look like.”

  “Lawrence is full-time with Mr. Anton, right?”

  June nodded. “Apparently, if he doesn’t have much plumbing work to do, he is tasked with the gardening, cleaning up the pool, and other handyman jobs. There’s plenty to do, he said, because Mr. Anton apparently constantly changes the landscaping in his properties to showcase them during the business parties. I don’t know. Lawrence said something about Mr. Anton’s business spending money to make money. I don’t understand that at all, but then again, I’m not very bright with those things.”

  “They must get big clients out of those parties, otherwise they wouldn’t be doing it.”

  “I guess.”

  “Is Mr. Anton married?” Bernadette pried. “Does he have kids?”

  “Don’t know. I did ask Evelyn about it when she was showing me the ropes. She said she has no idea. She’s never seen Mr. Anton with a girlfriend and she’s never known him to have kids. She did say he has a nephew who only comes during the business parties, but that they don’t seem to get along. She was about to tell me more, but Boyd walked in and Evelyn shut her mouth. She seems to be scared of Boyd. I don’t know why. The man doesn’t talk much, but I don’t find him scary at all.”

  “Maybe you shouldn’t be gossiping about Mr. Anton too much with the other staff anyway,” Bernadette warned.

  “Why not? They would also have signed an NDA, so we can all talk amongst each other, can’t we?”

  “Well, Mr. Anton didn’t state it that way. All he said was you can tell me things because I also signed an NDA. That doesn’t mean he’s happy about his staff gossiping about him and his relatives.”

  June made a face. “I guess. Anyway, it’s not as if I have much chance to chat with anyone. I’m alone most of the time, and Boyd is hardly ever there, too. You know, I think Boyd must be Mr. Anton’s bodyguard. He looks like one, and he only turns up when Mr. Anton is there.”

  “Maybe he’s like Lawrence—doing whatever needs to be done.”

  “Yeah. Anyway, even if it’s boring, I have to say there are big benefits to being alone in that big house for hours at a time. I can watch lots of TV on Mr. Anton’s big screen. I checked with him to make sure it’s all right and he said as long as I keep the house in spick and span condition, he doesn’t mind. He even said I’m free to eat whatever’s there when I’m working.”

  Bernadette smiled, although something had been bugging her about her mother’s new employment. “I’m glad you have this job, Mum, but I wonder why Mr. Anton needs a housekeeper at Dural every day. You’d think he’d only need someone to come in once or twice a week to tidy up a place that’s almost never used.”

  June shrugged. “He mentioned something about being happy that the house is not empty. He said he hates coming home to a place that’s not being aired or dusted daily.”

  “Right.” She guessed people with heaps of money to burn could do whatever they wanted with it.

  “By the way, what time is Derek picking you up tomorrow?”

  Bernadette sighed. “Mum, you shouldn’t expect that I’m always gonna be staying at Derek’s every weekend.”

  “But you are staying with him this weekend, right?”

  “Yes. But he has to work in the morning, so I won’t be going to his place until late in the afternoon. I’m driving myself there.”

  “Oh, okay. You can hang out with me and Lawrence, then. He’ll be here by lunchtime.”

  “Who’s cooking?”

  June rolled her eyes. “Fine, I will.”

  Bernadette hid her smile. Things had definitely improved between her and her mother.

  Bernadette’s heart skipped as Derek’s front door opened. “Hi,” she said, then threw her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately on the lips.

  “Mm,” Derek murmured, pulling her closer to him as he shut the door. “I couldn’t wait for you to arrive.”

  She grinned. “You were the one who asked me to come just before dinner. How was work today?”

  Derek sighed, taking her hand and leading her inside. “Difficult. Not only was it bucketing down rain all morning, but my clients kept on arguing with each other about what they wanted. I don’t see them deciding on a property soon, considering they can’t even agree on a location. And I’ve been working with them for three months.”

  She ran her hand up and down his back. “Maybe I can give you a massage before bed.”

  “Ooh, do we have to have dinner, then?” Derek quipped.

  She laughed. “Yes, we do. Let’s start cooking, shall we?”

  Bernadette enjoyed preparing dinner with Derek. They seemed to work well together naturally, reading each other’s movements and adjusting accordingly. Frankly, she believed they were perfect together in every way. Haahh. What bliss.

  Derek’s phone rang.

  “Argh,” Derek said. “Do you mind if I get this? It’s Charles Bronte, that client from this morning.”

  “Go ahead,” she said, her brows rising. Charles Bronte was a highly-paid rugby league player. So he was Derek’s client, huh?

  Derek took the call and didn’t leave the kitchen, not minding that she could hear.

  “That’s great news, Charles,” Derek said, standing behind her and caressing her hip while he watched her cook.

  Hmm, that felt good. She leaned back a little so she was snuggled up against his chest.

  “As soon as you give me the go-ahead,” Derek said to his caller, giving Bernadette a soundless peck on the temple, “I’ll make an offer to the vendor’s agent… Good… See you guys again soon. Bye.”

  “They made a decision?” Bernadette asked when Derek hung up.

  “Yes, finally. They’re just discussing now how much they’re prepared to pay for the one they want.” Derek kissed her neck.

  “I’m almost done here,” she said breathlessly. “Much as I’m enjoying this pose, I think you should set the table.”

  “Okay.” Derek rained more kisses on her cheek and shoulders. “Then we can have sex.”

  She laughed out loud. “Well, go get those plates ready, then.”

  Derek’s phone rang again.

  He groaned. “Because of the rain, a VIP client cancelled this morning. Now he’s ringing, too.”

  “You can still answer it.” She transferred her chicken stir-fry onto a serving dish.

  “No. Hugh Jackman can wait.”

  She widened her eyes at Derek. “You’re making Hugh Jackman wait?”

  Derek sent her a hot look. “Yes, because my honey wants me to set the table.”

  She melted. Tiptoeing, she gave him a lingering kiss on the lips. “Maybe you should turn your phone off, then.”

  Derek chuckled. “I already put it on silent.”

  Bernadette started scooping some steamed rice from the rice cooker to accompany their stir-fry when Derek’s phone started vibrating on the kitchen counter.

  Derek hurriedly placed the plates down to snatch his phone, his forehead creasing. “Sorry, babe. I have to get this one.”

  “Sure, no problem.”

  To her surprise, Derek left the kitchen. She wondered who was calling. Someone more prominent than Hugh Jackman?

  Derek came back a minute later, sighing heavily. “Babe, I’m so so sorry, but I have to see a client after dinner.”

  “What?”

  Derek rubbed his face. “It’s urgent, but I can have a quick dinner with you first.”

  “Is everything okay?” she asked worriedly.

  “Yes. It’s just something that has to be attended to immediately.”

  “Okay.” She tried not to sound too disappointed.

  Derek pulled her close. “I’l
l try to be back as quickly as I can.”

  She smiled. “We better start eating, then, so you can go.”

  Derek tried to be upbeat during dinner, but it was clear to Bernadette that his mind was elsewhere. She wanted to ask questions, but Derek would have already volunteered the information if it was something he could share. It wouldn’t surprise her if some clients of his had also made him sign an NDA.

  Bernadette volunteered to clear up in the kitchen after they’d finished so Derek could go to his urgent meeting. Halfway through, her bladder was calling to be emptied. She hastened to the powder room just as Derek was exiting through the door leading to his garage. He was on the phone again, his back turned to her.

  “Hey, it’s me,” Derek was saying to the person on the other end of the line. “I’m on my way. Can you put Holly through?”

  Bernadette frowned at hearing the name Holly. She moved away from the door, but not far enough that she couldn’t hear.

  “What did you read?” Derek asked. “No… Anyway, I’ll be there soon. See yah.”

  Bernadette listened to Derek’s car drive away, her heart pounding hard. Was Derek going to see Holly Stirling? Surely not.

  Well, maybe Holly was one of his clients. He had asked the person on the other end what she’d read, so maybe it was a contract for a property.

  Or maybe it was a different Holly. Holly Stirling couldn’t be the only Holly in Sydney. In fact, she herself had a coworker named Derek.

  Besides, someone else appeared to be with that Holly person, because Derek had to ask to be put through to Holly. So it wasn’t as if he’d be alone tonight with that Holly, even if it was Holly Stirling, right?

  Bernadette shook her head to clear it. She’d just ask Derek to clarify it when he got home.

  Still, she couldn’t help but worry that Derek had ignored Hugh Jackman’s call, yet left the house hurriedly to go to a woman named Holly. He’d even forgotten he’d wanted to have sex with Bernadette.

  Shut up, Bernie. There has to be a good explanation.

  She sincerely hoped so.

  Chapter 11